111 Individuals Charged with Alleged Federal Health Care Crimes

Last week the Medicare Fraud Strike Force charged 111 individuals in nine cities, including doctors, nurses, health care company owners and executives, and others, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving more than $225 million in false billing. It was also announced the Medicare Fraud Strike Force will expand operations to two additional cities – Dallas and Chicago. The operation is the largest-ever federal health care fraud takedown.

The individuals are accused of various health care fraud-related crimes, including conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, criminal false claims, violations of the anti-kickback statutes, money laundering and aggravated identity theft. The charges are based on a variety of alleged fraud schemes involving various medical treatments and services such as home health care, physical and occupational therapy, nerve conduction tests and durable medical equipment.

Nine individuals were charged in Houston for alleged schemes involving $8 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for physical therapy, durable medical equipment, home health care and chiropractor services. In Dallas, seven individuals were indicted for allegedly conspiring to submit $2.8 million in false billing to Medicare related to durable medical equipment and home health care.

In Chicago, charges were filed against 11 individuals allegedly associated with businesses that have billed Medicare more than $6 million for home health, diagnostic testing and prescription drugs.